Latch



March 18, Y 1952 2,589,405

C. W. LANG LATCH Filed Sept. 5, 1948 2 SPEETS--SHEET l /a FLE'. L 4/7415:' I l INVENTOR.

Char/es W ang HTTOR/VE Y Patented Mar. 18, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE LATCH Charles W. Lang, San Francisco, Calif. ApplicationSeptember 3, 1948, Serial No. 47,623 s claims. (o1. ce2- 170) Thisinvention relates to a door lock or latch set construction wherein aspindleis moved slidably back and forth along its longitudinal axis toopen and close a latch bolt. 'Locks or latch sets of this generalcharacter are known. The present invention provides a rugged lockconstruction Which is relatively inexpensive tomanufacture.

It is in general a broad object of the present invention to provide anovel and improved construction for a door lock or latch set of thecharacter described.

A furtherV object of the present invention is to provide a novel form ofspindle construction for a door lock which is'adapted to movealatch boltupon longitudinal sliding movement of the spindle.

The invention includes other objects and featuresof advantage,some ofwhich, together with .the foregoing, will appear hereinafter wherein thepresent preferred forms of door lock are set forth.

In the drawings accompanyingand forming a part hereof, Figure l is atransverse vertical section taken through a latch set embodying theinvention, the view being taken more particularly along the line I-I inFigure :2.

Figure 2 is a section'taken horizontally through a device embodying thepresent invention, the view being more particularly along the line2.-.;2 in Figure l.

Figures 3 and 4 arerespectively sections-taken along the lines 3--3 and4-4 in Figure 2 and illustrating the relation of the spindle, the latchbolt and the locking means employed.

Figure 5 illustrates a modied form of the invention wherein separatelocking means for the latch bolt-are provided at each end of thespindle.

Figure 6 is a section taken along the lineV 6.-6 in Figure 5 andillustrating the spindle, latch bolt and lock in the latch bolt unlockedposition.

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure .but showing the same parts inlocked position.

Figure 8 is a section taken along the line 8--8 of Figure 5 andillustrating the relation of the latch bolt, spindle and locking meansin their respective unlocked position.

Figure 9 is a view similar tov Figure- 8 illustrating the spindle, latchboltand locking means in their respective lockedpositions.

Figure l0 is a fragmentary View illustrating the construction of thespindle and the operatins means provided for thev latch bolt. and teken,along the line Ill- I0 in Figure 5.

Figure 1l is a section taken along Y*timeline Il-,Il in Figure 5 andshowing the parts in unlocked position While Figure 12 is a similarsection but with the parts in locked position.

Figure 13 is a View generally similar to Figure 10 but wherein the latchbolt can be locked `as well as the spindle.

Referring to the embodiment particularly shown in Figures 1 4, thestructure includes a latch bolt generally indicated at I6 and which isadapted to be moved back `andforth to release or to engage the usualkeeper plate (not shown), this movement being accomplished by thespindle structure generally indicated at I1. The latch bolt is shown asmounted in a typical support as Wooden door l, the bolt being'guided'and restrained by a plate I9 secured by screws (not shown) inthe door. The plate includes a c ircular extension 2! acting as a guidefor the latch bolt. l

The latch bolt I6 includes an end member 26 having a flat face 23therein parallel to the axis of the latch bolt and an angular face 21thereon, adapted to ride over a keeper plate provided in a door frameand lock yagainst such a keeper plate in the usual manner. Flat face 23rides against a flat side of the aperture in the keeper-plate toposition the bolt non-rotatably. Latch bolt I6 includes a latchplategenerally indicated at 28 and having an H-shaped slot 29 formedtherein to receive spring 3|,"the latter being positioned by legs 32 and33 defining the H -shaped slot.

Mounted in aV suitable aperture 4linthe door is a housing structure,generally indicated at 42 and having an opening 43 therein through-WhichtheY latch bar i6 projects With spring A3| resting against the casing,so that any movement of the latch bar from that position in which it isshown in Figure 2 is resisted by compression of spring 3| between thecasing and member 26.

Casing 42 includes a first dished member 44 generally cylindrical inoutline and having a at or base portion provided thereon so that themember can be readily mounted in any circular aperture. Mounted upon themember 44 is a second dished member 46, this member being somewhatdeeper than dished member 44 and having a flat or base portion 4l spacedfrom base portion 45 by the Width of latch plate 28, as appears inFigure 2, to provide a slidable support therefor. The outer peripheralrim portions 'te and 49 are received within a rim portion' and a coverplate 5I, the three being suitably ysecured togetheras by soldering,brazingor the like.

A tubular extension 53 mounted vupon the second dished member 46, thetwo being secured together as by turning over a portion of plate 53, asindicated at 54, in suitable apertures in plate 41. A cover plate 56 issecured in position by screws 51, the latter engaging threaded holes 58formed integrallyV in plate 45; the cover plate engages that side of thedoor opposite to the flanges 48 and 49 so that the casing 42 is securelyheld in position. A spring cover` plate 59 is provided, the latterhaving a rim 60 fitting snugly over the peripheral edge of cover plate56.

The extending ends and 52 provided respectively upon cover plate 5| andtubular extension 53 are bent inwardly to provide bearing structuressupporting a spindle structure generally indicated at |1 for slidingalong its longitudinal axis.

The spindle structure includes a tubular member 1| having slots 68 onopposite sides thereof to pass slidably the latch bolt 28. This membercan be formed of a nat plate from which one or" Y the slots is cut,while the plate is at; thereafter the plate is bent into cylindricalshape with the edges spaced apart to provide the other opposite slot.Mounted within and secured to the tubular member 'H is a tubular member61, the latter being held in position by a pin 16 which extends throughVtubular member 69, the latter having slots corresponding to slots 68.

Mounted `upon the pin 16 is a roller 12, the latter being engaged in acam generally indicated at 13 and which is made in the form of a rightangle triangle, generally an equilateral triangle in which one side 14is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the latch bolt, one side 15 istransverse to the longitudinal axis while the base 15 is at an angle ofabout 45 to this axis. The normal position of the pin and roller in thecam is as appears in Figure 2 wherein the pin and roller are adjacentthe rear of the bolt. In this position, the latch bolt can be movedrearwardly against the resistance provided by spring 3| without movementof the spindle. This type of motion is required, for example, to permita door to swing into closed position without operating the look. Whenthe spindle is moved to the right in Figure 2 in the bearings providedby portions 6| and 62, pin and roller 12 will move across the angularcam face 16 and will move the latch bolt rearwardly, thus serving toretract the latch bolt from engagement with a keeper plate and permitthe door to open.

To provide a lock for the spindle, a sleeve 69 is rotatably mounted upontubular member 61; this member likewise can be formed initially from aat piece, the various cut-outs made, the piece then rolled intocylindrical form. Sleeve 59 includes a slot 82 at one mid thereof inwhich an extensionY 83 is slidable, the extension being carried upon atubular member 34 having a plurality of teeth 86 formed thereon. Aspring 81 is positioned between door knob 88 and plate 89, provided inthe tubular member 84 to bias the latter into engagement withcooperating and corresponding teeth 9B formed upon an end of the tubularmember 61. The sleeve 69 and the tubular member 61 are locked inposition by a tongue 9| in the sleeve 69 fitting into a slot 92 on thetubular member 6l. The sleeve 89 includes an extension 55thereon,fhaving a slot 99 formed therein to receive and retain tonguelllat the rear of the latch plate 28. Thus, to lock the spindle in theposition shown in Figure 2, it is only necessary to rotate knob 88approximately 45 and sufliciently to move teeth 8B and 98 relative toone another one tooth. Rotation in the op- F posite direction iseffective to release the lock. The rear end of the latch plate 28includes, in addition to tongue IUI, a cam face |92 (Figures 2 and 3)which, when the spindle is locked, rides against a cooperating cam face|83 on extension 96. If the latch plate s moved rearwardly, the lock onthe spindle is released, cam face |62 on the latch plate engaging camface |63 on the extension 96 and rotating' this to permit the latchplate to move past the extension and so releasing the spindle fromengagement with extension |0| this can occur, for example, when,inadvertently, the spindle has been locked against sliding while thedoor is open and the door is then moved toward and into closed position.

Knob 88 is usually suitably fixedly secured to sleeve 69 in Figure l,one or more ears 33 are bent into a cooperatively positioned notch inthe shank of the knob.

At its opposite end, member 1| includes a plate |01 positioned thereinand serving as a rest for a spring |88 which biases a ball |89 intoengagement with an aperture in a slidable plate ||2, the latterincluding a tongue ||3 movable through an aperture in member 1| and intoengagement with a like aperture in the tubular ex tension H4 on thesecond knob H6. This permits the second knob ||6 to be placed inposition so that the lock can be readily assembled or disassembled.

In that modification shown in Figure 5, the slidable spindle can belocked selectively by either one of buttons |3| and |32 provided in theknobs ||6 and |33. In this modication, knob |33 is mounted directly uponslidable spindle |31 and retains a rotatable button |3| in position in arecess |35` in slidable spindle |31. The button |3| carries'a tubularextension |4| which is rotatable in a sleeve |42, the latter in turnbeing slidable in spindle |31 and having a tongue |43 fitting in a slot|48 in spindle |31. The end of sleeve |42 has a plurality of notches |44therein engaging like notches |45 in sleeve |46. A blade |41 (Figures 5,6 and '1) ts across the recessed ends of extension |4| and sleeve |46and is notched to receive these; plate 45 carries a notch |48 therein topermit the blade |41 to pass to the left (Figure 5) in that position ofthe button shown in Figure 5. When the buttonis rotated and the blade ismoved out of registry with the notch (Figure '1), then the spindlecannot be moved axially; plate 45 is provided with a recessed portion|49 to permit the blade to move out of registry and retain it againstsliding. At the same time, tongue |5| on extension |4| is rotated into aposition in which it rests against cam portion |52 on the end of thelatch plate 28 so that, if the spindle is locked against sliding whenthe door is open, the latch plate can release the spindle and the doorcan be closed.

Button |32 in knob I6 can also be employed to lock the axially slidablespindle against sliding. In this instance, a sleeve |6| is rotatablymounted in the slidable spindle Vand includes a notch |52 therein. Whenthe sleeve |5| is positioned as in Figuresv 5 and 11, the notches inspindle |31 and sleeve I6! are aligned and spindle |31 can slideaxially. When sleeve |6| is rotated to take the notches out of alignment(Figure 12), the spindle cannot move axially because sleeve 16| abutsagainst the side of the latch plate 28. The sleeve ISI is latohed inthis position until released by turning a button |32 or the latch 28 ismoved inwardly. Sleeve` 16| and sleeve |46 are spaced apart bysemi-cylindrical spacers |18 which are retained in place by pin A1i).The button |32 has an extension |83 fitting slidably into cross` piece|64 'which is fitted into slots It in sleeve IGI. The button |32 alsocarries'a toothed extension |66 tting cooperatively against toothedVsleeve |51, the latter being pressed against extension IE6 by spring |58positioned between washer |59 and cross piece |1|; toothed sleeve |61 isslidable in the spindle, tongue |12 thereon sliding in slot |13 in thespindle.

Knob I6 is removably mounted in the spindle by a disc member |16 havinga tongue |11 fitting into an aperture in the knob shank. The disc isforced into the position in which it is shown in Figure 5 by cylinder|18, the latter having a conical end |19 fitting into a conicalreceptacle |8| in the disc |16. A spring |82 is positioned between thecross piece IEA-andv the conical end |19. When it is desired to removethe knob, tongue |11 is pressed inwardly to force the disc transverselyand compress spring 02, whereupon the knob can be removed..

In that form of device shown in Figure 13, the sleeve |6| includes anextension IBIA which, when the sleeve is rotated as by manipulation ofbutton |32 into that position wherein the spindle cannot move axially,extension |6|A is moved into position wherein it extends across the backof the latch plate; the latter is notched as at |04 for this purpose andone of spacers |10 is made shorter than the other to permit rotation ofthe extension ISIA. Thus, the latch plate, as well as the spindle, canbe locked against sliding.

From the foregoing I believe it will be apparent that I have provided anovel, rugged and simple form of lock which can be manufacturedrelatively inexpensively, utilizing sheet steel and brass and employingpunch presses to form most of the parts.

I claim:

l. In a latch of the character described, a latch bolt slidably mountedin the latch and having a flat end thereon, a cam slot formed in said atend, said slot being generally in the form of a triangle having its baseextending substantially at 45 to the axis of the bolt and one sideextending parallel to the axis of the bolt and the other side at 90 tosaid axis, a spindle slidably mounted in the latch and having a slotformed therein to receive said latch bolt flat end,` a pin carried bythe spindle and engaged with said cam slot to move the latch boltaxially upon axial sliding movement o f the spindle, an extension on theend of said latch bolt iiat end, and means rotatably supported on thespindle for engaging said extension to hold said spindle againstsliding.

2. In a latch of the character described, a latch bolt slidably mountedin the latch and having a flat end thereon, a cam slot formed in saidfiat end, a spindle slidably mounted in the latch and having a slotformed therein to receive said latch bolt fiat end, a pin carried by thespindle and'engaged with said cam slot to move the latch bolt axiallyupon axial sliding movement of the spindle, an extension on the end ofsaid latch boltl fiat end, and means rotatably supported on the spindlefor engaging said extension to hold said spindle against sliding.

3. In a latch of the character described, a

6. side-extending parallel to the axis fof the bolt. and the othersideat 90- to said axis, alspindle slidably mounted in the. latch, saidspindle beingtubular in section and having a continuous slot along oneside thereof to receive saidflatch bolt flat end, a pin carried .by thespindle and engaged with'said cam slot to move the latch bolt'axiallyupon axial sliding movement of the spindle, an

extension on the end of said latch bolt at end, and means rotatablysupported on the spindle for engaging said extension to hold saidspindle latch bolt slidably mountedv in the latch and having a flat endthereon, a cam slot formed in v.

said flat end, said slot being generally in the form of a trianglehaving its base extending substantially at 45 to the axis of the boltand one against sliding.

4. In a latch of the character described, a latch bolt slidably mountedfor movement back and. forth along a first axis, a spindle-slidablymounted for movement back and forth along a second axis at to the firstaxis to move 'the latch bolt; a casing mounting the spindle 'and meansVfor latching the spindle against sliding movement including Ia buttonhaving an 'extension thereon, a sleeve slidable in the spindle andsupporting said extension for rotation, a blade extending tranversely ofthe spindle and mounted Y on the extension for rotation betweena'spindlesliding position wherein the blade is movable through anaperture in the casing and a spindlelocking position wherein the bladeengages the casing.

5. In a latch of the character described, a latch bolt slidably mountedfor movement back and forth along a first axis, a Aspindle slidablymounted for movement back and forth along a second axis at 90 to thefirst axis to move the latch bolt; and means for latching the spindleagainst sliding movement including a button mounted for rotation on thespindle and having a toothed extension thereon, a sleeve having atoothed end thereon engaged cooperatively with the toothed extension, aspring pressing said toothed end and toothed extension into engagement,a sleeve within said spindle and rotatable therewith, said sleeve havinga notch adapted to fit over and pass the latch bolt. y

6. In a latch of the character described, a latch bolt slidably mountedfor movement back and forth along a first axis and having one endadapted to engage a keeper plate and its other end formed with aprojecting tongue and with a cam; a spindle slidably mounted formovement back and forth along a second axis at 90 to the first axis tomove the latch bolt; means for locking the spindle against slidingmovement including a sleeve rotatably supported by the spindle andhaving a notch formed therein cooperatively adjacent said projectingtongue and a terminal face thereon cooperatively adjacent said cam, saidsleeve being rotatable selectively between a position in which thespindle is free to slide and another position in which the notch in thesleeve is engaged with the tongue on the other end of the latch bolt toprevent the spindle from sliding axially and the terminal face isengaged with the cam for movement thereby.

7.111 a latch cf the character described, a latch bolt slidably mountedfor movement back and forth along a first axis and having one endadapted to engage a keeper plate and its other end formed with a lockingmeans, a spindle slidably mounted for movement back and forth along asecond axis at 90 to the first axis to move the latch bolt; means forlocking the spindle against sliding movement including a sleeverotatably mounted within the spindle and rotatable selectively betweenone position in which the sleeve is engaged with the locking means onthe other end of the latch bolt to prevent the spindle from slidingaxially and another position in which the spindle is free to slide; acam on an end of the latch bolt, and a cooperating cam on said sleeveand engagedwith the cam on the latch bolt when the sleeve is in latchbolt locking position, said cams being effective to rotate the sleeveupon sliding of the latch bolt.

8. In a latch of the character described, a latch bolt slidably mountedfor movement back and forth along a first axis and having one endadapted to engage a keeper plate and its other end formed with anextension to provide a locking means; a spindle slidably mounted formovement back and forth along a second axis at 90 to the iirst axis tomove the latch bolt; means for locking the spindle against'slidingmovement including a sleeve rotatably mounted on and;

engaged with the extension on the end of the latch bolt to prevent thespindle from sliding axially; and cam means provided on the end of thelatch bolt and on the sleeve for rotating the sleeve from the secondposition to the rst position vupon sliding of the latch bolt when thespindle 'is locked.

CHARLES W. LANG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

